Who says history doesn’t repeat itself? Last year on this day, the Cowboys were 8-7, with a prime-time game at the Giants to determine the NFC East champ and playoff berth. Same thing this year, just sub out the Giants with the 'Skins. Is it finally Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ turn? Or does RG3 extend his shock-’n’-awe act to January?

2. Houston Texans (12-3) at Indianapolis Colts (10-5)

As far as playoff matchups go, this game is meaningless for the Colts. They’re locked in as the AFC’s fifth seed. The game, however, is the afternoon’s most captivating, as head coach Chuck Pagano returns from having conquered leukemia. Houston has lost two of three and is almost desperate to recapture its lost offensive momentum, especially with top-seed status only a win away.

3. Green Bay Packers (11-4) at Minnesota Vikings (9-6)

With a win, the Packers would clinch the No. 2 NFC seed and first-round bye. If the Vikings win, they’re in – and the Packers would need the 49ers to lose and Seahawks to lose or tie to still get the No. 2 seed. The Packers have won nine of 10 and will be tough to beat, even if the Vikings are at home.

4. Chicago Bears (9-6) at Detroit Lions (4-11)

With a win at Ford Field, and a Minnesota loss, the Bears would squeeze into the playoffs. But they’ve lost five of their past seven, their offence is struggling mightily, and RB Matt Forte likely will be limited by a bum ankle. The Bears could sorely use Devin Hester’s first return TD of the season.

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MUST-WIN SUNDAY

The team that must win, or else

San Francisco 49ers (10-4-1)

Yes, the Niners are already guaranteed a playoff spot. But for the first 16 weeks of the season, and indeed since Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach last year, they’ve been sitting atop the NFC West every week. But if the 49ers lose at home to the lowly Arizona Cardinals, and if Seattle beats St. Louis, the Seahawks would win the division. And the second-place Niners would play next week, on the road, as a wild-card team.

Who says history doesn’t repeat itself? Last year on this day, the Cowboys were 8-7, with a prime-time game at the Giants to determine the NFC East champ and playoff berth. Same thing this year, just sub out the Giants with the 'Skins. Is it finally Tony Romo and the Cowboys’ turn? Or does RG3 extend his shock-’n’-awe act to January?

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Sports writers punched these words — or similar ones — into press-box typewriters in the 70s. They clumsily finger-padded them onto Tandys in the 80s and 90s. They hard-tapped them onto laptops last decade. And, on Monday night, they soft-tapped them onto their PCs, iPads and cracker-thin MacBooks: